Deconversion?

[Gwenyfur]

Why would anyone live with all that stuff? That is not what being a Christian means! When one is a Christian, their service to the Father is done out of gratitude and love, not fear and oppression. If that is what some people feel, then maybe they need to re-evaluate their relationship with God.

Furthermore, Christians don't sit in judgement of, or under judgment from, any anyone else. If that is what people are basing their actions on, again, they need to re-evaluate their relationship with God.

I don't believe that, statistically speaking, Christians suffer with more depression and other emotional/mental disorders than any other segment of the population.

Serving out love? yeah...I'll give ya that...most christians do "love" their god...but then when they don't act, feel, say, do, or even, are what other christians think they should be...then comes the guilt, shame, judgement, yada yada yada...

How long you been on CF??? It's just as bad in 3D land...take off the blinders. The judgementalism, condemnation, and disregard in this thread alone counters that "don't sit in judgement" quite well enough

As for emotional disorders...they don't suffer any less either...

Who needs the baggage

 

[A New Dawn]

How long you been on CF??? It's just as bad in 3D land...take off the blinders. The judgementalism, condemnation, and disregard in this thread alone counters that "don't sit in judgement" quite well enough

I really see very little judgmentalism and condemnation in this thread, TBH. I think most are doing well at keeping the judgmentalism and condemnation to a minimum.

Who needs the baggage

What baggage? Christ helps us with our baggage. Even in the worst of times, it isn't any heavier because one is Christian. The sun shines on the good and the evil, and it rains on the just and the unjust.

 

[b&wpac4]

There's nothing wrong with taking off your mask and being who you really are sweetie. There's nothing wrong with exposing the lie and being free of it...and who you truly are isn't dead or destroyed...just buried underneath years of "it's the right thing to do" instead of just being who you truly are...

Don't go too far the other way though. I don't feel trapped or anything like that in my faith.

 

[Thekla]

I, too, have a different experience of the spiritual journey towards Christ.

I went through a period of questioning and distress, of disbelief, of research directed toward the theory that Christianity is "made" of earlier religions (both academic inquiry and interaction with adherents of non-Christian practices).

After a return toward Christ, I experienced a strong sense that I was "recovering" my self-hood. I am more like I was as child - the personhood - than before. As I move forward toward Christ, I move backwards into my self; not a constructed self, but an uncovered self.

 

[sk8Joyful]

please go find the ones who havent lost their faith and hang out with them....Just let your self be there, no expectations placed on you and none placed on them, just hang out with them....
Im not kidding, go find those people who are stronger in their walk and hang out with them ok?

This is good, and while you're at it - Befriend people whose authentic & genuine joyful peace rests in their daily-walk with Jesus...

 

[Gwenyfur]

as in authentic and genuine peace cannot exist outside of jesus?

 

[pdudgeon]

How do you let him go, though?
How do you get past the sense of failure and guilt at not believing.... I don't know how to 'be myself'... I think I killed myself of years ago and became some false construct.. and when the mask eventually drops, there's nothing behind it. I feel completely worthless, and all the biblical platitudes I've used to try to hold that off are gone.. I'm not a 'child of God', there is no divine plan for my life.. the mess I have made is all I am.. and to be honest, it doesn't seem worth carrying on with at times.
I don't know any more where my strength comes from.. and I think when it comes down to it, I don't have any.. I have nothing to offer, nowhere to go, and no purpose.

no, you didn't kill yourself off years ago...you were changed, just like the caterpiller and the butterfly.

now the false construct is a possibility if you didn't understand what happens when you become a Christian, or if no one explained to you or helped you to get rid of the old hurts and hangups that went with the old life.
So yes, if you've been carrying those around with you behind the "Sunday-go-to-meeting" mask, then that would be a great burden to be carrying on with.

the point is, there is a great difference between being freed from our past hurts and hang ups, and letting them go so that we can take on the yoke that Christ made for us.
that yoke is easy, and that burden is light because He works in the same yoke in tandem with us.

Christ freed you from those hurts and hangups, but if you've picked them back up and carried them around with you for many years, still feeling guilt , confusion, or sorrow over them, i can see how they would become a great burden and get in the way of your finding a fulfilling Christian life and a fullsome relationship with God and Jesus.
God sees you and hears your prayers and petitions as a new creature, not as the old unforgiven you, wrapped up and snared in the old life.
When God forgives sins they are not only forgiven, but they are forgotten.

but the solution is not to keep on carrying them and discard the Christian life because it's hard to do both. in fact, it's not only hard, it's impossible.
That's why Christ sets us free from those bonds of the past. Since they were forgiven, they were never ment to be carried around for the rest of our lives.

But we have to be willing to let them go and be free.

 

[Hentenza]

as in authentic and genuine peace cannot exist outside of jesus?

It can but is unfulfilled. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Hi Gweny

 

[Gwenyfur]

It can but is unfulfilled. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Hi Gweny

meh...we'll just have to agree to disagree...

Hey Hen

 

[pdudgeon]

as in authentic and genuine peace cannot exist outside of jesus?

nope.

that peace is temporary and can be changed by circumstances.

the peace of Jesus doesn't depend upon circumstances, nor is it affected by them.

 

[Gwenyfur]

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

tell it to someone who'd buy it...
wasted 14 years on that particular fairy tale...

Or for that matter...tell it to Criada...who's struggling with circumstances and choices that have a *HUGE* effect on her day to day life, adn day to day mental well being.

 

[b&wpac4]

the peace of Jesus doesn't depend upon circumstances, nor is it affected by them.

Saying this, in this thread, seems rather silly to be honest. It's quite clear that Criada is not experiencing this peace that isn't affected by circumstance.

 

[dawiyd]

How do you let him go, though?
How do you get past the sense of failure and guilt at not believing.... I don't know how to 'be myself'... I think I killed myself of years ago and became some false construct.. and when the mask eventually drops, there's nothing behind it. I feel completely worthless, and all the biblical platitudes I've used to try to hold that off are gone.. I'm not a 'child of God', there is no divine plan for my life.. the mess I have made is all I am.. and to be honest, it doesn't seem worth carrying on with at times.
I don't know any more where my strength comes from.. and I think when it comes down to it, I don't have any.. I have nothing to offer, nowhere to go, and no purpose.

If you feel like this, I highly recommend reading The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus (the wikipedia article on the book is worth a read too, as it highlights the key concepts).

May the best be with you, and I do hope you find some strength somewhere.

 

[Sojourner1]

Serving out love? yeah...I'll give ya that...most christians do "love" their god...but then when they don't act, feel, say, do, or even, are what other christians think they should be...then comes the guilt, shame, judgement, yada yada yada...

How long you been on CF??? It's just as bad in 3D land...take off the blinders. The judgementalism, condemnation, and disregard in this thread alone counters that "don't sit in judgement" quite well enough

As for emotional disorders...they don't suffer any less either...

Who needs the baggage

It's a good thing that we only are accountable to God and not to other believers. It really doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks about us when it comes to our faith. To be influenced by others and what they say about us shows that perhaps our faith isn't very strong. I've always lived by the saying "we play to an audience of One"...it has kept me on track throughout my Christian walk. There are always going to be people judging you regardless of whether you're a Christian or not. It's a part of life. If you are living your life to please other people and get the approval of other people then you will always be disappointed. People will always disappoint you, but God will not.

 

[Gwenyfur]

*shnort*
I'd quote Ghandi but that's a rule violation on CF IIRC...

 

[sk8Joyful]

as in authentic and genuine peace cannot exist outside of jesus?

No, because God/Christ never succumbed to outside- circumstances.
And in fact, He lived amongst us as our Examplar, to show us His way...how we too can.

Since each of us is creation, originally of God, when we walk, as best as we are able, with...Christ, in this sense we are authentic/genuine & can peace enjoy.

Say you are presented another opportunity, of helping a person become this "LITTLE-child" God/Christ encourages us each living as; whether the context be Salvation-of-soul, &/or Emotional-healing, &/or Physical-healing.
See
how many people, continue as adults, walking with Christ as a "LITTLE-child"; and why do you think, God/Christ repeatedly used a "LITTLE-child" as an example of authentic and genuine peace. - (and as He said: "not as the world understands this), but as God wrote His Loving counsels in each soul~mind~heart.
Yes -
you can skillfully help others with 2 of the areas, yet even there considering we are creation, originally of God, therefore all PRAISE belongs to Him, as our Creator including of healing-abilities. - And from such, we can authentically & genuinely experience feeling & emoting, & help encourage peace... can you relate to this?
.

 

[Sojourner1]

*shnort*
I'd quote Ghandi but that's a rule violation on CF IIRC...

So it isn't God that is the problem, it's Christians. Makes sense to me to give up on God based on the actions of some who call themselves Christians. I'm glad I have been able to look past those who don't represent God well and see God in the lives of others who have actually submitted their lives to Him and He lives through them.

 

[Fuzzy]

Peace and contentment are subjective, dependent on the one seeking.

 

[Gwenyfur]

the christian god (here comes plenty of rule violations so get yoru reporting finger ready) was composed of by combining many of the pagan traditions together...to create a new archetype and in the process trigger all kinds of upheaval and evil in the name of "god". All of the christian holidays are based off of pagan holidays, twisted to fit the "new" (truly recycled) religion of christianity. along with it came the restrictions on sexuality (first religion of it's kind there!), restrictions on types of worship (also a first), and that's about it...even the virgin birth, death, and resurrection are regurgitated traditions of older religions...

the misery caused by the "new and improved holy writings of scripture" which again are nothing more than recycled pagan beliefs, oral legends, traditions, priestly activities, and rites, throw in a bit of "exclusionary" (no gays, no magick, no premarital sex, no polygamous marriage, no alcohol, no drugs - too close to divination, no justice, and be servants and slaves to your uber holy god, instead of a partner with them) rules and voila...new religious texts...

that is what you defend...

 

[Hentenza]

the christian god (here comes plenty of rule violations so get yoru reporting finger ready) was composed of by combining many of the pagan traditions together...to create a new archetype and in the process trigger all kinds of upheaval and evil in the name of "god". All of the christian holidays are based off of pagan holidays, twisted to fit the "new" (truly recycled) religion of christianity. along with it came the restrictions on sexuality (first religion of it's kind there!), restrictions on types of worship (also a first), and that's about it...even the virgin birth, death, and resurrection are regurgitated traditions of older religions...

the misery caused by the "new and improved holy writings of scripture" which again are nothing more than recycled pagan beliefs, oral legends, traditions, priestly activities, and rites, throw in a bit of "exclusionary" (no gays, no magick, no premarital sex, no polygamous marriage, no alcohol, no drugs - too close to divination, no justice, and be servants and slaves to your uber holy god, instead of a partner with them) rules and voila...new religious texts...

that is what you defend...

Nah! You admined Theology so you know better. lol!!!!

The "Christianity came out pagan crap" is just that crap. Do you wanna start with a link to support your stuff and then I can provide a link to support my stuff and we can have a good old time link fighting? Doesn't that sound just peachy?